World Database of Key Biodiversity Areas: a comprehensive new database for the management of important sites for biodiversity

BirdLife International and the KBA Partnership are pleased to launch a beta version of the World Database of Key Biodiversity Areas (WDKBA), a comprehensive, robust, up-to-date and accessible data management system for KBAs, the most important sites in the world for nature.

The new database has been developed by BirdLife on behalf of the KBA Partnership with the generous support of the Garfield Weston Foundation and the Bezos Earth Fund. The platform allows users to register and log in, view information on KBAs, propose new sites as KBAs and update information on the biodiversity importance of existing sites. It applies various data validation rules to determine if the site qualifies as a Global KBA and under which criteria. The system allows users to invite other individuals to participate in assessments, while supporting the KBA review and confirmation process, with notifications alerting the different actors when responses are needed. Through these developments, the WDKBA increases the speed and efficiency with which KBA National Coordination Groups can engage all relevant stakeholders and update their KBA inventories, thereby reducing the work involved, enhancing collaboration and strengthening the robustness of the dataset.

To date, more than 16,500 KBAs have been identified worldwide, including sites identified as Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas by the BirdLife Partnership, and sites identified by the Alliance for Zero Extinction as holding the last remaining population of one or more highly threatened species. Data on KBAs are used by governments, multi-lateral environmental agreements, businesses, academia and other sectors of society. The improved efficiencies afforded by this new database will improve the effective use of KBAs in guiding implementation and achievement of targets in the Global Biodiversity Framework due to be agreed by the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD) in 2022, including the proposed ‘30 × 30’ commitment to expand the global network of protected and conserved areas, as well as proposed commitments to retain intact ecosystems, restore degraded habitats, prevent extinctions and recover the abundance of species’ populations. To support BirdLife Partners, the BirdLife Secretariat is currently exploring how best to streamline the IBA and KBA identification processes and integrate the data compilation, assessment and management processes involved, given functionalities already available and those planned in the new database.